Our Musical Director

Steve Cowperthwaite was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and brought up in nearby Hexham, Northumberland. During his formative years he was a member of the choir at Hexham Abbey where he became Organ Scholar. He studied Music with Applied Physics at Surrey University and the Organ under Philip Moore and Gerald Gifford.

After a post-graduate year at Newcastle University, Steve returned to Hexham to teach Music, and then moved to Bromsgrove to become Head of Music at North Bromsgrove High School where he enjoyed himself so much in an environment that was so positive for the Arts that he stayed, ultimately becoming Assistant Headteacher.

Steve has conducting experience with a wide range of choirs and ensembles but enjoys working with choirs most. A firm believer in inclusivity in amateur music making he enjoys the challenges presented in introducing sometimes difficult choral music to singers in as fun and engaging a way as possible.

As well as his very active musical life, Steve also plays a major role in leading the arts generally in Bromsgrove.  In addition to his role of Director of Music at Barnt Green Choral Society, he is Director of Music and Organist at St John’s Parish Church Bromsgrove and chairman of Bromsgrove Arts Alive, a charity which supports and promotes over 40 arts and cultural organisations in the Bromsgrove area.  Steve is also a trustee and actively involved in the charity Bromsgrove Community Arts which operates the newly-reopened Artrix theatre in Bromsgrove, and is a trustee of the David Morgan Music Trust.

When not devoting his life to the Bromsgrove arts scene Steve enjoys escaping to unusual destinations and seeing where a senior inter-rail pass can get him.